MALTON & Norton RUFC finished the season with a 49-26 defeat at Cleckheaton, who secured North One East rugby for another season.

The visitors were still in the game at half-time, when only seven points separated the sides, before the hosts steamrollered the third quarter.

This was Malt's third defeat on the trot, though it mattered not to their divisional status, with the Gannock outfit's safety having been guaranteed in the previous round of fixtures.

Cleck, meanwhile, retained 11th place and moved level on points with Malt, for whom the table reveals some unedifying details - chiefly a points difference of minus-164, conceding an average of 27 points per game, and a poor return of bonus points. Some have bemoaned a substitutes bench that is occasionally not suited to North One East.

Malton's 16-14 win at Bridlington was their last victory of the season, which has ended with a downturn in results. A heavy 78-29 defeat at Bradford & Bingley was followed by their second loss of term to Scarborough before this reversal against Cleckheaton, who avenged the defeat at the other end of the season.

The saving grace for Malt was that the scant chance the sides below them had of catching up was erased by the bottom three's losses at key moments.

Cleck fielded a traditional heavyweight pack featuring a mix of bulk and speed in the backs and opened the game by combining good ball retention and patience, with their phase play waiting for the weakness in Malton's defensive line to show and exploiting it.

It worked, and eight minutes in the hosts were two converted tries up.

Malton entered the game on 13 minutes, with Tom Foan scything through untouched for seven points after a quick tap penalty.

Cleckheaton replied with a five-pointer six minutes later, before - on 23 minutes - a Foan charge-down and follow-up gave Malton another converted try to close the gap to five points.

Two Cleck penalty kicks either side of the half-hour stretched their lead though Malton's hopes were reignited with a converted try from England Under-19 Freddie Lockwood on 37 minutes.

A Cleckheaton penalty on the stroke of half-time brought the score to 28-21 in the hosts' favour.

Any chance of a result for Malton was extinguished with 21 unanswered points coming on 47, 50, and 65 minutes by a determined Cleckheaton outfit who used all the guns in their armoury - brute force, guile and speed on the wings.

Lockwood notched a consolation try for Malton on 70 minutes to complete his brace.

Selby finished their Yorkshire One season in 11th following a 22-17 final-day defeat at Hullensians.